Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment Increase In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Success in the Infertile Population?

OBJECTIVES: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is obtained by centrifuging the platelet-rich portion of the patient's own blood. The objective of our study is to retrospectively examine the impact of intraovarian PRP injection on infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve, specifically focusing on the oocyte count, oocyte quality, and endometrial thinning. METHODS: A retrospective assessment was conducted on cases who had intraovarian PRP injection at the in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Gazi University School of Medicine hospital. The review encompasses the period from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2020. The endometrial thickness, follicle count of greater than 14 millimeters, estradiol levels, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and antral follicle count were assessed during the menstrual cycle both prior to and within a period of 1-6 months following the PRP procedure. Twenty nonpregnant patients who had IVF before and 4-6 months after PRP were admitted to the post-PRP IVF cycle. The quantification of oocytes and M2 oocytes was conducted both prior to and subsequent to PRP treatment. RESULTS: Among 120 cases, only 60 cases who fulfilled inclusion criteria were analyzed. The basal endometrial thickness, basal follicle number (>14 mm), estradiol value, oocyte count, and M2 oocyte count exhibited a statistically significant increase following the administration of PRP injection (p<0.001). The basal FSH value exhibited a notable drop following the administration of PRP injection, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.002). In the pregnant group, the number of oocytes obtained with oocyte pick-up (OPU) increased by 300%, and in the nonpregnant group, the increase was 125% only. The number of M2 oocytes obtained with OPU increased by 250% in the pregnant group, while it was 93% in the nonpregnant group. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, the affordability of PRP production and its considerable theoretical efficacy have the potential to substantially decrease the expenses associated with assisted reproductive technology procedures. In the present scenario, the administration of an intraovarian PRP injection may be contemplated as a therapeutic intervention for women exhibiting diminished ovarian reserve.

Nutritional Factors Related to Male Fertility: Turkish Sample.

This study aimed to investigate the difference between infertile men and healthy (normozoospermic) men in terms of demographic characteristics, dietary habits, anthropometric measurements, and body composition. We included 80 males (40 subfertile and 40 healthy normozoospermic) between the ages of 25 and 54 years. Information was obtained from the participants regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, health status, dietary habits, and food intake. Food frequency questionnaires, food records, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and sperm analysis were statistically evaluated using IBM SPSS Statistics 20 programme. The findings of this study showed that the mean BMI of the subfertile group was significantly higher than that of the normozoospermic group. The frequency of eating out was significantly higher in the subfertile group than in the normozoospermic group. It was also determined that the consumption of fish was significantly lower; in contrast, consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, and alcohol was significantly higher in the subfertile group than in the normozoospermic group. Moreover, it was found that sugar sweetened bevareges, red meat, organ meats consumption are negatively; and that fish, egg, nut consumption are positively correlated with sperm parameters. In summary, in men receiving infertility treatment, excessive consumption of meat and sugary drinks should be considered cautiously. However, fish, nuts and eggs consumption should be provided in line with the nutrition guidelines.

Magnesium and diltiazem relaxes phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings.

Perioperative vasospasm during cardiovascular surgery is a challenging problem. Several vasodilator agents are frequently utilized for its prevention in surgical practice. Magnesium and diltiazem both have known potential vasorelaxant effects. We planned to compare the efficacy of diltiazem and magnesium in relieving phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings. Ten young adult female Wistar albino rats weighing 230-260 g were used in this study. The aortic rings in the organ bath equilibrated and reached their baseline tension. Precontraction was induced by 0.001 mmol/l phenylephrine and cumulative concentration-relaxation curves were obtained by consecutively increasing the addition of either diltiazem (10(-6)-0.1 mmol/l) or magnesium (0.1-10 mmol/l). The mean maximal relaxation responses observed by diltiazem and magnesium on separate aortic rings were 90 ± 3 and 53 ± 2%, respectively. The calculated EC50 of diltiazem was 0.01035 mmol/l, whereas the EC50 of magnesium was 4.064 mmol/l (P < 0.05). Both magnesium and diltiazem produced vasorelaxation on phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings in this study, but the potency of diltiazem regarding the EC50 value was significantly higher than that of magnesium. Magnesium could be a candidate together with diltiazem to inhibit vasospasm on arterial grafts during coronary bypass surgery.

Retrieval of a mispositioned Ex-PRESS glaucoma device.

The purpose of this article was to report the misposition and subsequent retrieval of an Ex-PRESS (Optonol Ltd., Neve Ilan, Israel) glaucoma drainage device implanted in an eye with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma. The formation of excessive fibrosis at the site of the implant, which was partly dislocated into the anterior chamber, was observed. The Ex-PRESS drainage device was removed from the anterior chamber and the intraocular pressure was relieved through trabeculectomy at the superotemporal part of the globe. The results suggest that trabeculectomy is a practical approach to alleviate intraocular pressure in the case of failed glaucoma drainage devices.

Combined ocular anesthesia via a single entry.

Although topical anesthesia techniques for cataract surgery are evolving, injections are unavoidable in some cases. Our technique of injecting local anesthetic agents for akinesia of the orbicularis oculi and the globe via a single entry near the lateral canthus decreases the pain and patient anxiety about the number of injections and avoids the complications of retrobulbar injection.

Relation between corneal thickness and intraocular pressure measurement by noncontact and applanation tonometry.

PURPOSE: To assess whether there is a significant difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements between noncontact and applanation methods and if so, whether the difference is correlated with corneal thickness. SETTING: Isik Eye Clinic, Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 120 eyes of 60 randomly selected patients. Noncontact tonometry, applanation tonometry, and pachymetry were performed in each eye. The results were compared and an analysis was performed to determine whether there was a correlation between the differences in IOP measurements and corneal thickness in the entire group and in subgroups composed of the halves and quarters of the group. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the entire group was 20.38 mm Hg +/- 4.97 (SD) with the noncontact tonometer and 18.84 +/- 4.47 mm Hg with the Goldmann applanation tonometer. The difference between the measurements with the noncontact method and those with the applanation method was statistically significant (P <.01) except in cases having a corneal thickness between 513 microm and 539 microm (P >.01). There was a positive correlation between corneal thickness and the difference in measurements by noncontact and applanation tonometry, and the magnitude of correlation was greater in cases with thicker corneas. CONCLUSION: The reliability of tonometers decreased with increasing corneal thickness, in which case higher readings were found, especially with the noncontact tonometer.

Correlation between intraocular pressure and corneal stromal thickness after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal stromal thickness following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia or myopic astigmatism. SETTING: Private clinic in Turkey. METHODS: The database of patients who had LASIK was retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative and postoperative IOP and corneal thickness were measured in both eyes of 353 patients by noncontact tonometry and ultrasonic pachymetry, respectively. The correlation between changes in IOP and corneal thickness was evaluated by regression analysis. RESULTS: Laser in situ keratomileusis was associated with a mean decrease in pachymetry of 46.7 microm +/- 28.9 (SD) and a mean decrease in IOP of 2.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg. There was a significant correlation between the decreases in IOP and pachymetry (P <.001). CONCLUSION: The decrease in IOP after LASIK was related to the decrease in corneal stromal thickness, although there may be other contributing factors.

Outcome of flap subluxation after laser in situ keratomileusis: results of 6 month follow-up.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome in cases with flap subluxation after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Private clinic in Turkey. METHODS: Data of all patients who had LASIK were documented and the follow-ups of those who had flap subluxation evaluated. The number of LASIK cases was 1481 and the number of flap subluxations, 21. Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed with the Moria microkeratome and the VISX Twenty/Twenty B excimer laser using a multizone profile and the sutureless hinged corneal flap technique. RESULTS: The incidence of flap subluxation was 1.42%. Statistical analysis of uncorrected visual acuities, best corrected visual acuities, and mean spherical equivalents in eyes with and without flap subluxation was performed. No significant differences were found, although the results in eyes with flap subluxation were worse than those in eyes without flap subluxation. Additional complications were also higher in eyes with flap subluxation. CONCLUSION: Flap subluxation is a serious but manageable complication of LASIK. If it is detected early, the visual prognosis is as good as that in eyes without flap subluxation.

Accurate time interval in repeated tonometry.

PURPOSE: Determination of the accurate interval between the measurements in repeated tonometry. METHODS: Two hundred-and-seventy subjects were randomly divided into 6 groups. Two successive intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were performed with Goldmann-type applanation tonometer at different time intervals in each group. The time intervals between the two measurements were 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 minutes. The results in each group were statistically analyzed with the significance test for matched observations. RESULTS: We recorded a statistically significant difference between the first and the second IOP measurements at 1, 3, 4 and 5-minute-intervals. The differences were not significant at 2 and 10 minute-groups. CONCLUSION: The time interval between successive IOP measurements should be 2 or 10 minutes for accurate tonometry.